Bear Gifts

Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Common characteristics
of modern bears include a large body with stocky legs, a long
snout, shaggy hair, plantigrade paws with five nonretractile
claws, and a short tail. While the polar bear is mostly carnivorous
and the giant panda feeds almost entirely on bamboo, the remaining
six species are omnivorous, with largely varied diets including
both plants and animals. With the exceptions of courting individuals
and mothers with their young, bears are typically solitary
animals.

Species: There are a 8 known species of bears.
The 8 living species of bear include: Asiatic Black
Bear, Black Bear, Brown Bear, Polar Bear, Panda Bear
, Sloth Bear, Spectacled Bear and Sun Bear.

Habitat: Bears live all over the world, they
are not however found in Antarctica or Australia. Their
habitats range from tundra to dense rainforests and
high mountains.

Description: Bears have massive bodies, coarse
heavy fur, relatively short limbs, and almost rudimentary
tails. Bears are covered with thick fur, which protects
them in the severe cold that most species encounter
in their habitats. The polar bear, brown bear, and American
black bear have solid color coats. The sun bear, sloth
bear, spectacled bear, and Asiatic black bear have dark
coats with light patterns on the chest and face.

Diet: Bears are omnivores, the eat both plants
and meat. The exact make up of their food prefences
varies from species to species.

Senses: Bears have an acute sense of smell and
a natural curiosity.

Life Span: Most species of bears have an average
life span of about 25 years.